Lesson Plans:

Finding Main Ideas
Students read newspaper articles to determine the main idea of a story

Using the Prediction Strategy to Set Purposes for Reading
After modeling and guided practice, students will use the strategy and document results in a journal.

Be a Reading Detective
Finding similarities and differences in ideas. This lesson includes an interactive Venn diagram

Reading Groups
Students listen to stories and then form groups to answer questions about the content of the story.

ARTSEDGE: A Listening Doll
Students discuss the process of storytelling and listening to stories.  Then they create a listening doll in the tradition of the Native American storyteller dolls.

Listening to Gather Evidence in a Reading Selection:
Students will listen effectively to obtain evidence to suport decisions when making judgments.

Biographies: Creating Timelines of a Life
Studying biographies is of interest and value to young learners. This lesson supports students' exploration of sources to create a timeline about the life of a person.

Using a Newspaper Index
This lesson plan teaches children how to use an index to find out what is in a newspaper.

Exploring the Rain Forest Through Print, Graphics, and Sound
A thematic unit that provides numerous meaningful reading and writing activities.

Quest for The Rajah's Rice
After reading The Rajah's Rice, a mathematical folktale by Dave Barry, students will complete a WebQuest. The WebQuest includes a compare/contrast activity, a recipe activity, and opportunities for more extensions related to the story.

Resources:

Circle Plot Diagram:  This is a really neat interactive program by Read Write Think.org. Create a plot diagram and print it out!

Graphic Organizers by Scholastic:  Here you will find many types of graphic organizers for literary elements.

Teaching Tips: Graphic Organizers:  A list of sites that have printable and interactive graphic organizers to be used in the classroom. Includes KWL charts, webs, clusters, timelines, outlines, fish diagrams, story maps, comparing charts, cause and effect charts, and more.  

Not Your Same Old Book Report:  This site offers unusual ideas for book reports.

More Ideas Than You'll Ever Use for Book Reports: Over a 100 ideas for book reports

Reference Resources Online:  A list of sites that include online dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, telephone directories, and Internet searches to locate information. Also learn about primary sources and where to find them.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:  This site offers a free online dictionary and thesaurus.

Newspapers in Education Online:  This website lists many activities using the newspaper. This site is updated weekly. Please note that this does not correspond to the Mobile Register.

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test:  Practice tests and teaching strategies for comprehension.

Arctic Influences:  Online and printable activities for expanding comprehension in all content areas.

Reading Comprehension:  Use these sample stories to help students improve their reading comprehension. Includes questions at the end of each story. The reading material targets upper elementary students and above.

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding) 

E/B: Identify characters and setting nonverbally (i.e. gestures, pictures, pictures, charts, graphic organizers) or with simple spoken words or phrases.
E/B: Identify and use title pages, chapter headings, and illustrations with gestures (i.e. pointing) or simple spoken words or phrases to locate information in a simple text; D: Use features of text, including format, diagrams, charts, and illustrations, to locate information; E: Use features of text, including format, diagrams, charts, and illustrations, to support comprehension.
E/B: Follow one-to-two-step written instructions with assistance in an illustratively supported basic technical manual or with oral instructions; D: Follow most multi-step instructions in an illustratively supported basic technical manual; E: Follow most multi-step instructions in a basic technical manual.
E/B: Review information on a similar topic from two illustratively supported sources and express with simple spoken or written sentences; D: Collect and consult information on a similar topic from a variety of sources and express with simple spoken and written sentences; E: Compare and contrast information on a similar topic from a variety of sources.
E/B: Respond to true or false statements about illustratively supported texts; D: Identify facts and opinions within text that are supported by examples and illustrations and express with simple spoken and written sentences; E: Distinguish between most facts and opinions in text.
E/B: Create a pictorial main idea diagram as you verbalize the parts. Draw the diagram both ways, with the details "adding up" to the main idea and vice versa. Have students point to the main idea in both diagrams; D, E: Have small groups review a topic they've learned in class (i.e. animal adaptations). Model creating a main idea diagram for one of the animals in its habitat. Then have students make a main idea diagram about another animal and its habitat. Invite groups to share their diagrams with the class.